Driving home help

“We’re just trying to find a new normal with our family,” Andrea Chase said. “It’s just one day at a time.”

Support from the community has helped keep them going, said the mother of four, ages 5-17.

“The love and kindness that we’ve felt from friends, family and strangers have made it more doable,” Andrea said.

The community will have a public chance to support the family at a fundraising pig roast and auction on Saturday. The event will take place at Hamilton High School, 4911 136th Ave., from 5-7 p.m. It will be hosted by Teddy’s Transport of Holland, the trucking company that employed Alan. A live auction will start at 7 p.m.

Teddy's Transport owner Helen Zeerip said many of her 70 employees will be involved in the event to raise funds to help support the Chase family. Alan did not have life insurance and Andrea worked part-time, but she's currently on leave from her job.

Andrea said all of the donations are used “for our bills to live.”

Alan was driving his rig south on I-196 north of South Haven shortly before 6 a.m. Sept. 25, when his truck crossed the highway's median — "for unknown reasons," police said — and struck a northbound semi. Alan, 38, was pronounced dead at the scene.The occupants of the other truck, an Indiana man and his wife, suffered minor injuries.

Zeerip said an investigation revealed no Department of Transportation violations.

Those unable to attend the auction can still make a donation by making out a check to Andrea Chase and sending it to Teddy’s Transport, 4201 Lincoln Road, Holland, MI 49423.

To read more of this story, see today’s print or e-edition of the Grand Haven Tribune.